Beyond Paradise's Felicity Montagu's life off-screen as she opens up on motherhood

BBC One's Beyond Paradise is back for a new season, featuring the return of Felicity Montagu in her role as Margo Martins. The 64 year old actress hails from Leeds and is perhaps most recognised for her portrayal of Lynn Benfield, the beleaguered assistant to Steve Coogan's character Alan Partridge.

Born into a family of five children, Montagu has an intriguing lineage as the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel John Drogo Montagu. Her great-great-grandfather was Admiral George Montagu, a renowned officer in the Royal Navy.

George was the direct descendant of James Montagu, who was the third son of Henry Montagu, the 1st Earl of Manchester. Henry, an English judge, politician and peer, is infamous for sentencing Sir Walter Raleigh to death.

Henry's son James served as MP for Huntingdon in the English House of Commons, sharing the platform with Oliver Cromwell in 1628. In terms of Felicity's career, she boasts notable roles in Bridget Jones's Diary, Doc Martin, Suburban Shootout and Nighty Night.

She has also been a regular contributor on BBC Radio 4 since the 1980s. On a personal note, she tied the knot with TV and radio producer Alan Nixon in 1984.

Despite their divorce in 2006, the two share a bond as parents to their children Olivia and Luke. She expressed to The Guardian: "We're still a team," adding, "My children make me laugh a lot."

Felicity fondly recalled the collaboration with her daughter, also an actress, on the BBC Radio 4 series 'Guilt Trip' in 2016 where they played fictional mother and daughter roles—a creative venture sparked by a package holiday they shared in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

Reflecting on their bond she mentioned: "We've always had a rough and tumble relationship," attributing the dynamic nature of their relationship to difficult times around Olivia's birth, which happened three months after her own mother's death due to cancer, followed by her illness and hospitalization. "She was whipped away and taken home because I couldn't breastfeed her. It was a strange beginning," Felicity reminisced.

While sharing her personal challenges, she acknowledged her comparatively smoother start with supportive parents who, despite their doubts, backed her career decision.

'Beyond Paradise' airs on BBC One, every Friday at 8pm